Color and stain removers for



Patented Apr. 17, 1951 ooLoR AND STAIN REMOVERS FOR FABRICS 7 Elliott Morrill, Indianapolis, Ind, Eugene D.

Seiter, Westfield, N. J and Chester M. Gooding, Staten Island, N. Y., assignors to The Best Foods, Inc., New York,

New Jersey N. Y., a corporation of No Drawing. Application July is, '1949, Serial No. 105,263

6 Claims. 1

This application is acontinuation in part of the copending application, Serial No. 773,082, filed September 9, 1947 (now abandoned).

This invention relates to color removers, and more particularly, to dry, solid, color and stain removers forfabrics...

. An object of this invention is to remove color from dyed fabrics preparatory to redyeing.

. Another object of this invention is -to provide a color and stain remover which is particularly adapted for household use and which may be utilized effectively by the non-professional.

While there are numerous dye removers adapted and sold for home use, many of these color removers do not remove color from all fabrics preparatory to redyeing. For example, some color removers, due to the presence of alkali, attack wool and swell and disintegrate some synthetic cellulose fabrics. Other household color removers do not remove the color from fabrics made of cellulose esters, particularly if the cellulose'ester fabric is dyed with a. dark color. These deficienciesof commercial household color removers are particularly disadvantageous when it is required to remove color from a garment composed of two different fabrics, such as wool and rayon.

In accordance with this invention, color and stain removers are provided which are adapted for household use and which effectively remove colors from all types of fabrics whether the fabric be composed, for example, of cotton, cellulose esters, wool or rayon. The color of a wool garment having a rayon lining, for example, can be efiectively'removed by the compositions of this invention from both fabrics simultaneously and without substantial damage to either fabric. Certain stains may likewise be removed by the compositions of this invention.

The compositions of this invention comprise 100 parts of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, 40 to 250 parts, and preferably 50 to 80 parts, of monocalcium orthophosphate,monosodium orthophosphate or monoammonium orthophosphate, and 1 to parts of a solid nitrogenous, organic cationic material, substantive to cellulosic materials, such as cellulose acetate, and having a substituent containing at least 12 carbon atoms. The compositions of this invention may be produced by dry mixing the basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, the orthophosphate and the solid, nitrogenous organic cationic material. The compositions are adapted to be readily dispersed in water by a housewife to produce a color and stain removing solution. Until the compositions are dispersed in water, theyare not effective, and to facilitate the relatively quick dispersion of the color removing compositions, they are preferably dry mixed. Since the three gallon pail is a common household article, conveniently, the amount of composition contained in a household package is sufficient to form an efiective color removing solution with about two and a half gallons of water, although other concentrations may be used. The composition, after dispersion in the water, is preferably heated to a, temperature above and the fabric is immersed completely in thatjsolution. After the color has been sufficiently removed, the article is withdrawn from the bath, permitted to drain and thoroughly washed and rinsed in cold water.

By a cationic material is meant a material which, when dispersed in water, is capable of producing a relatively large organic cation, either by dissociation of the molecule per se or by hydrolysis of the reaction product of the material and the acidic components of the composition. For example, certain solid amine salts on dissolving in water produce these cations, and certain amine bases in' water solution sometimes hydrolyze directly or combine with the acid components of the composition to form an amine salt which in turn produces these cations. Solid organic ammonium salts having at least 16 carbon atoms are particularly satisfactory for use as the cationic material component of the compositions of this invention. Solid, water soluble cationic aryloxy alkoxy alkyl'ene quaternary ammonium salts having at least 16 carbon atoms and in which the alkoxy group has at least two carbon atoms, such as aryloxy alkoxy alkylene ammonium chlorides having at least 16 carbon atoms, for example, para diisobutyl phenoxy 'ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, are especially satisfactory for this purpose.

The principal factors, involved in determining the relative proportions required to produce a satisfactory dry color remover in accordance with this invention are the quantity of water in which the composition is to be dissolved, the temperature of the water solution during the color re-' moving, the period of time that the dyed fabric i immersed in the solution and the relative fastness of the dye. In the marketing of color removers adapted for household use, the proportions of constituents may be varied to produce a composition which would be satisfactory for the removal of color from dyed fabrics and which would be adapted for dispersion in a definite quantity of water at a definite temperatura'the dyed fabric being immersed in the solution for a 3 definite period of time. These latter three factors of quantity of water, time and temperature invention is obtained by referenceto the following examples:

Example 1 A dry household color and stainremover for fabrics was prepared by dry mixing the following 7 in the quantities indicated: 50 grams basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde a great number of fabrics, the presence of any of the defined orthophosphates Within the concentration limits specified accelerates this stripping action and extends the stripping ability of the basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde to include certain dark-colored cellulose acetates which are only very difficultly or not at all stripped by basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde alone. 1 This effect 7 is particularly marked in the case of dark-dyed acetates.

To strip and remove color from these-certain dark colored acetates, it is essential that the amount of monocalcium orthophosphate, monosodium orthophosphate, monoammonium orthophosphate or mixtures of such orthophosphates be at least 40 parts, and preferably at least 50 parts, for each 100 parts of zinc sulfoxylate fomaldehyde since this lower limit is substantially critical for the removal of color from such fabrics. The amount of monocalcium orthophosphate, monosodium orthophosphate or monoammonium orthophosphate may, however, exceed 250 parts per 100 parts of zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, but there is no advantage in employing quantities of orthophosphate above the specific maximum limit, and from a practical standpoint, it is decidedly uneconomical and disadvantageous to do so because of the increased cost of ingredients and the necessity of providing an unduly bulky package.

The use of the cationic material specified extends this acceleration of stripping ability and improves the speed and extent of action on the most difficultly stripped dark-dyed acetates. While the compositions of this invention are capable of stripping a great many fabrics, there are some fabrics or dyes which cannot bestripped by the compositions of this invention or by any other known means. category are fast-dyed cottons and resin-pigment printed textiles. 7

Examples of solid, nitrogenous organic cationic materials, being substantiveto cellulosic ma.- terials, and having a substituent containingat least 12 carbon atoms are stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, stearyl dibutyl benzyl ammonium chloride, stearyl tris (hydroxy ethyl) ammonium chloride, diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, lauryl pyridinium chloride, salts of lauryl amine, para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, 1-hydro xyethyl 2-heptadecenyl glyoxalidine hydrochloride, salts of amino ethyl stearamide, stearyl amine hydrochloride, salts of para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl amine, and salts of diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl amine.

In the compositions of this invention, a mixture of monocalcium orthophosphate, monosodium orthophosphate and ammonium orthophosphate, or any two of them, may be used. The total quantity of any mixture of such orthophosphates, however, should be 40:to 250 parts, and preferably 50 to 80 parts, for each 100 parts of basi zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde.

A more comprehensive understanding of this Included in this latter grams monocalcium orthophosphate Zgrams para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride This color and stain remover is adapted to be dispersed preferably in about two and one-half gallons of water. For effective results, the solution is heated to a temperature above 175 F. The

' color, of dyed fabrics whether composed of cotton, wool, nylon or synthetic cellulosic esters was effectively removed by such solution before redyeing without any substantial detriment to the fabric.

- Example 2 A dry household color and dye remover was prepared by dry mixing the following ingredients:

50 grams basic zinc sulfo-xylate formaldehyde 30 grams monocalcium orthophosphate 6 grams stearyl dimethylv benzyl ammonium chloride: 1

This dry composition may be dispersed in about two and one-half gallonsof water to form an effective color and stain -removing solution.

Example 3 A dry household color and stain removing composition was prepared by dry mixing the following: p I

50 grams basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde 25 grams monocalcium orthophosphate 4 grams, lauryl pyridinium chloride This composition was adapted for dispersion in about two and one-half gallons of water to produce and effective color and stain removing solution. 7

v7 V K Example 4 Y 7 j V A dry household color and stain remover for fabrics was prepared by dry mixing the following: 50 grams basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde 35 grams monocalcium orthophosphate 5 grams 1-hydroxyethyl-2-heptadecenyl glyoxalidine hydrochloride This composition was adapted for dispersion-in about two and one-half gallons of water.

7 Example 5 A dry household color and stain remover'for fabrics was-prepared by dry mixing the following:

Example 6 A dry household color and stainlremover for fabrics was prepared by dry mixing the following:

50 grams basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde 40 grams monosodium orthophosphate 4 grams para diisobutyl phenoxy'ethoxy .ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride This composition was adapted for dispersion in about two and one-half gallons of water.

Example 7 A dry household color and stain remover was prepared by dry mixing the following:

50 grams basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde 25 grams monoammonium orthophosphate 2 grams para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride This composition was adapted for dispersion in about two and one-half gallons of water.

The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and we have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of basic zinc-sulfoxylate formaldehyde, 40 to 250 parts by weight of a member selected from the class consisting of monocalcium orthophosphate and monosodium orthophosphate, and 1 to 20 parts by weight of a solid nitrogenous organic cationic material selected from the class cons isting of para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

2. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, 50.to 80 parts by weight of a member selected from the class consisting of monocalcium orthophosphate and monosodium orthophosphate, and 1 to parts by weight of a solid nitrogenous organic cationic material selected from the class consisting of para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. Y

3. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, '50 to 80 parts by weight of monocalcium orthophosphate and 1 to 20 parts by weight of para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

4. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, to parts by weight of monocalcium orthophosphate and 1 to 20 parts by weight of para diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

5. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of parts by weight of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, 50 to 80 parts by weight of monosodium orthophosphate and 1 to 20 parts by weight of para diisobutyl phenoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

6. A solid dry color and stain remover for fabrics consisting essentially of 100 parts by weight of basic zinc sulfoxylate formaldehyde, 50 to 80 parts by weight of monosodium orthophosphate and 1 to 20 parts by weight of para diisobutyl cresoxy ethoxy ethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

ELLIOTT MORRILL. EUGENE D. SEITER. CHESTER M. GOODING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain June 23, 1930 

1. A SOLID DRY COLOR AND STAIN REMOVER FOR FABRICS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF 100 PARTS BY WEIGHTS OF BASIC ZINC SULFOXYLATE FORMALDEHYDE, 40 TO 250 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF MONOCALCIUM ORTHOPHOSPHATE AND MONOSODIUM ORTHOPHOSPHATE, AND 1 TO 20 PARTS BY WEIGHT OF A SOLID NITROGENOUS ORGANIC CATIONIC MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF PARA DIISOBUTYL PHENOXY EHTOXY ETHYL DIMETHYL BENZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE AND DIISOBUTYL CRESOXY ETHOXY ETHYL DIMETHYL BNEZYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE. 